Well, not quite thousands, but quite a few in “the best musical this century”: The Book of Mormon’. See it at The Theatre Royal this July and August.

It was The New York Times that deemed ‘The Book of Mormon’ the best musical of this century, and such a bold assertion will find no arguments from this quarter. I LOVE this show (yes, caps) and it seems that audiences round the world LOVE it too given that it always plays to packed out houses. Needless to say, critics are also massively on board with the production, and it has already scooped nine Tony Awards to go with its four Olivier Awards. What makes it so good is that it’s a show that really does go big. I’m talking big songs, but also big laughs, too – proper belly laughs. Penned by South Park’s Trey Parker and Matt Stone, along with Avenue Q’s Bobby Lopez, the plot sees a pair of mismatched missionaries sent on a quest to a place that’s about as far from Salt Lake City as you can get. See it and feel those life-affirming vibes. DP

The Book of Mormon, 22 July-9 August, Theatre Royal, Newcastle, 7.30pm (Fri & Sat mats 2.30pm), from £21, theatreroyal.co.uk